Reagent feeder



March 28, 1944- J.. H. ELLIS ETAL REAGENT FEEDER Filed July 7, 1941 sSheets-Sheet 1 Inventors d0// V HARRY ELL/5 LEW/S B. STARK AttorneyMarch 28, 1944. J ELUS ETAL 2,345,332

REAGENT FEEDER Filed July 7, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I n ventor:

LEW/5' 5. 9774f? Attorney March 2s;-1944.

J. H. ELLIS ETAL REAGENT FEEDER Filed July 7, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Inventor JOHN HARRY ELL/S LEW/8 B. S TARH By Za -4062..

Attorney Patented Mar. 28, 1944 REAGENT FEEDER John Harry Ellis andLewis B. Stark, Neihart, Mont.

Application July 7, 1941, Serial No. 401,398

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in wetreagent feeders and has for one of its important objects to provide, ina manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character which isadapted to be expeditiously and accurately adjusted to discharge thereagent at any desired rate of speed.

Another ver important object of the invention is to provide a feeder ofthe aforementioned character comprising adjustable means forelectrically heatin or warming the reagent to any suitable temperature.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a reagentfeeder of the character described comprising a discharge spout which isadapted to be removed when desired for cleaning or replacement.

Other objects of the invention ar to provide a reagent feeder of thecharacter set forth which will be comparatively simple in construction,strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact and whichmay be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein like characters of reference designate correspondin partsthroughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a reagent feeder constructed inaccordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a View in side elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a top plan view.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially on the line44 of Figure 2. v

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view, taken sub stantially on the line5-5 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the electric heatin or warmingsystem.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that theembodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises acontainer for the reception of the wet reagent, said container beingdesignated generally by reference numeral I. The container I may be ofany suitable material and of an desired capacity.

The container I include an elevated bottom 2 thus providing a supportinbase or skirt 3. The container I further includes a top portion 4 havinghingedly mounted thereon a cover or lid 5. Any suitable means, as at 6,may be provided for securing the cover 5 in closed position.

The bottom 2 of the container I is provided is a variable rheostat witha discharge opening I the Walls of which are formed to provide a seat.The container bottom 2, it will be noted, slopes toward the dischargeopenin I.

Rising from the top portion 4 of the container I is a boss or neck 8.Threadedly mounted in the neck 8 is a needle valve 9. At its lower end,the needle valve 9 terminates in a comparatively long point In whichprojects all the way through the discharge opening I. At its upper endthe needle valve 9 terminates in an operating handle II. The needlevalve 9 is operable in a tubular guide I2 which is provided therefor onthe adjacent wall of the container I.

Th container skirt 3 has formed therein an opening I3 which accommodatesa discharge spout I 4. Fixed on the bottom of the spout I4 is a bracketI5 which is secured by a screw I6 to the skirt 3. It will thus be seenthat the spout I4 may be expeditiously removed when desired.

Mounted beneath the bottom 2 of the container I is an electric heaterIT. This heater may, of course, receive electric current from anysuitable source. Mounted on one side of the container I I3 which isinterposed in the electric circuit to the heater I I for controlling orregulating said heater. A hinged door I9 permits access to be readilyhad to the space or chamber which is provided beneath the container I bythe elevated bottom 2.

It is thought that the operation of the device will be readily apparentfrom a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the wet reagent isplaced in the container I and flows at the desired rate through thedischarge opening I from which it drops into the inclined spout I4. Thedischarge of the wet reagent through the opening 1 is controlled throughthe medium of the needle valve 9, the construction and arrangement beingsuch that any desired adjustment may be rapidly and accurately made andheld. Further, the comparatively long point In of the needle valve 9, byreason of the fact that it extends clear through the opening 1, keepssaid opening clear at all times. As hereinbefore stated, the spout I4may be expeditiously taken oif for cleaning or replacement by simplyremoving the screw I6. The electric heater I'I maintains the reagent atthe proper temperature to flow freely. The temperature is regulatedthrough the medium of the rheostat l8.

It is believed that the many advantages of a wet reagent feederconstructed in accordance with the present invention will be readilyunderstood, and although a preferred embodiment of the dean open troughextending at an inclination through the second-named opening andpositioned beneath the first-named opening for receiving the reagenttherefrom, a bracket depending from the trough, and means detachablysecuring said bracket to the container for removably securing the troughin the second-named opening.

JOHN HARRY ELLIS.

LEWIS B. STARK.

